r/HumansBeingBros • u/B0ssc0 • 16d ago

Video of Procedure in Comments Wedge-tailed eagle Storm learns to fly again after lifesaving feather transplant

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-20/wedge-tailed-eagle-storm-returns-to-skies-after-surgery/105069656
562 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

13 comments sorted by

53

u/george_washingTONZ 16d ago

For those that don’t want to click:

To help Storm, an innovative procedure called “imping” was used.

The process is akin to attaching a prosthetic limb. Donor feathers from a deceased bird are carefully matched to the damaged ones.

Pretty cool win for veterinary care!

13

u/ear2theshell 16d ago edited 16d ago

Damn it now I need to see a full video of this procedure and a detailed explanation

Edit: found this, it's so cool! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-jxWXH1AqE8 and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8CC16QJ8GXI

3

u/george_washingTONZ 16d ago

Appreciate the tag team, good find!

2

u/originaldumpster 16d ago

Great video! Thanks for posting!

1

u/LoudImportance 15d ago

Thank you so much.

8

u/readitleaveit 16d ago

You got to click and know of the humans who are the bros

3

u/LoudImportance 15d ago

That eagle was very lucky to find such kind people. It could have gone the other way.

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u/B0ssc0 15d ago

Exactly so.

2

u/omarhani 16d ago

Must have been flying over Turkey?

2

u/tekmuse 13d ago

I am glad for Storm as he can fly again. Rest in Power to the birds who gave their lives and feathers for him and the other bird.

3

u/somewhoever 16d ago

Donor feathers are attached similar to a prosthetic limb?

So, when a human amputee's leg prosthetic catastrophically fails, they usually don't have so far to fall. Is there any chance this donor feather transplant could catastrophically fail high in flight?

If so, would it just be like a pilot gliding in under engine failure, or could the bird be in for a much rougher fall from grace?

7

u/RoninSFB 16d ago

Possibly yes, but in nature this eagle would've died anyway. So given the choice of dead today, or possibly dead tomorrow most would choose tomorrow.

From the article though seems like this was just a measure to keep the eagles wing strength up while it's natural feathers regrew. Article states up to 18 months to regrow it's flight feathers and it was kept in rehab for 13 months, so he should be perfectly fine now

1

u/Ronem 16d ago

Its theme music is so good.

MIDI intensifies